2011 Nissan LEAF

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Without hesitation, we can recommend the 2011 Nissan LEAF — just not as a primary car. It's a peppy, fun second vehicle, but for longer trips, you'll want the reliability of a gasoline car.

When driving the LEAF, the first thing you'll notice is the instantaneous torque, meaning that there is no lag between putting your foot on the gas pedal, and acceleration. The LEAF was arguably the quickest car we tested at lower speeds, but it seemed to run out of steam during highway maneuvers. Handling was good but we experienced a little roll around turns. The unconventional electronic steering (as opposed to the mechanical steering you'll find in most vehicles) was smooth , and easy to turn at any speed. The 'engine" (electric motor) is disconcertingly silent, except for a nearly imperceptible whine at higher speeds. As with the Volt, cold weather seemed to eat away at the vehicle's range, meaning closer to a 60-mile range than the claimed 100-mile range or EPA-rated 73-mile range.

The steering wheel controls were easy to navigate, and our consumer testers thought it was reasonably easy to use. Consumers also rated the LEAF among the roomiest and most comfortable of cars. The communication and navigation systems were both easy to use and scored highly. The LEAF's gauge cluster displays the current power being delivered to the motor or, when braking, how much energy is being recovered into the battery pack. On the main navigation LCD screen, data such as your economy history is readily available, as well as how your use of the climate control is affecting the car's range. You can even upload the data on-screen and compare yourself to other LEAF drivers.

The LEAF is a mainstream fully electric car to enter the market in some time. While other cars seemed to have come and go and perhaps not been mainstream-material, the LEAF is here to stay, and seems to be setting an example for others to follow as other manufacturers have similar cars in the works. We charged our LEAF in around 8 hours with our 220V charging station (which cost approximately $2,000 without making use of potential incentives), and an unrealistic 20 hours when charging via a standard household 110V outlet. An iPhone app proved useful, showing us the state of charge at any given moment, and allowing us to program a warm-up time.

LEAF, which despite the green imagery the word evokes is actually an acronym (Leading Environmentally-friendly, Affordable Family car). And, in essence, it's just that. The LEAF has an estimated $561 annual electricity cost, as opposed to the $2,700 it would cost you per year to drive an average 2010 car. Over 10 years, the LEAF can potentially save drivers $21,400, which is the real value proposition of this car. If your commute is less than 70 miles per day, the LEAF is fully practical.